Unipart supports Coventry University battery value chain feasibility study
November 2024 – Unipart is among partners working with Coventry University on a government-funded feasibility study into sustainable transport.
Awarded through the APC’s Academic Advisory Group (AAG), the Department for Business and Trade grant will enable Coventry University to carry out a feasibility sprint to investigate ‘Advancing UK’s Industrial Strategy for the Next-Generation Battery Manufacturing’.
The project will see Coventry University analyse the complete battery value-chain, working with key partners, to provide a roadmap of the key technical challenges, skills gaps, and investment opportunities to build future scalable next-generation manufacturing capability.
Unipart Manufacturing, alongside industrial partners Gaussian, TaiSan, Global Nano Network, and Nyobolt, will provide extensive battery expertise and guidance in support of Coventry University.
This project is just one of many examples of Unipart collaborating with partners to harvest innovation from the UK’s world-class academic institutions.
Unipart has a history of securing APC funding, notably being involved in the first ever competition launched by the APC, winning a grant to develop a low-carbon combustion engine technology.
More recent APC funding secured by Unipart includes Project PULSE, an £11m project working to improve the UK supply chain by working with in-wheel motor manufacturer Protean Electric, and H1perchain, an £11.3m battery production project led by Hyperbat, Unipart Manufacturing’s joint venture with Fortescue Zero, that created 50 highly skilled jobs and a commercial agreement to supply battery packs for a global customer.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of The Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Unipart’s unique collaboration with Coventry University where the next generation of engineers are learning in a live factory environment.
Carol Rose Burke, Unipart Manufacturing Group Managing Director, said: ‘We’re really pleased to be collaborating with Coventry University, industry partners, and the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK to identify the innovative technologies that can be successfully scaled to drive the transition to sustainable transport.
‘We have an excellent relationship with Coventry University through The Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, which not only gives the engineers of tomorrow the skills needed in the UK supply chain, but also gives us access to the latest research and development opportunities so we can deliver the best service to our customers.
‘These partnerships are critical to ensuring the UK supply chain remains competitive with the rest of the world.’